A Little Bit of This and That...

My in-laws have left for home this morning, hopefully not taking with them the fluey/cold virus that struck me down the day that they arrived! Thankfully I managed to make it through the worst with the help of several doses of these...
and am feeling a lot more like my usual self this afternoon...

I made a quick trip into Bath, to a vintage fashion fair this morning. I wasn't really feeling 100% and so did a quick flit round, finding these treasures on the way, and then it was back home, out of the torrential rain, and to try to catch up with everything that's been neglected over the last few days.

French treasures: Original c1910 fabric panel, a set of 3 pleated silk lampshades and a delicious rose printed fabric covered box.

Thought I'd just show you a couple of other bits and bobs too, whilst I'm here...

Another Edwardian photo collage that I completed, using some pretty antique lace and trims...

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And talking of antique lace, Louise and I arranged a private swap between ourselves; Lovely lace in exchange for some vintage fabric scraps.

At the top is the beautiful lace that Louise sent to me, along with some other surprise treasures...

Also included were some feedsack patchwork pieces and the retro trims below. Thanks again Louise...and 'happy crafting' with your vintage fabric scraps...when they make it to you across the pond! ;-))

Another parcel also arrived for me this week...this one from Monica, which was a complete surprise. Inside was this wonderful handmade wooden gingerbread man for our festive tree this year. Thanks again Monica...he'll be very much at home with our homespun decorations here at The Stone House! x

That's all for now...hope you've had a lovely weekend and have a good week too! I'm hoping for some good news re: my shop-to-be, by the end of this week...fingers crossed...and I'm also hoping to find the time for a bit of Christmas crafting.

Niki x

Rag doll available at www.nostalgia-stonehouse.co.uk

Vintage Details

I'm just sitting here waiting for my mother and father-in-law to arrive...
All is clean, tidy, dust-free (well, as dust-free as it will ever be around here ;-))
and all is calm and quiet...
Just time to take five minutes to enjoy the details on this November day...

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Niki x

Sweet Sixteen

I bought a small selection of old photographs the other day...all a little tatty around the edges...just the way I like them, but also ideal for using in some quick creative makes...

I love this serious little chap in his sailor suit, which reminded me that I had a cabinet photo of a more grown up young man in his sailor uniform in my stash. They seemed ideal placed together and I'm enjoying how they now seem to tell a story within the collage...

An old military cap badge was secured through the card, which reinforces the tale and I also stamped the words 'Our Boy' down the side.

A pretty Sunday School card with a simple motto completes the piece.

I'm working on the other two portraits at the moment, using lots of antique lace and a touch of sparkle...but creative time is a little lacking around here at the moment...

Because today is my baby's Birthday! She's sixteen today...I can hardly believe it - 16 sounds so grown up.

She made her Birthday cake herself, as she loves baking and is also a great animal lover...

Even the scary varieties!

She's taken the cake to school today to share with her teacher and friends. Her form tutor has been with her since year seven, but leaves today to have her baby soon. I know my daughter will miss her.

'Happy Birthday Gorgeous Girl!'

I have my in-laws arriving tomorrow to stay with us for a while, but I'll try to check into my blog when I can.

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Niki x

Waist Not, Want Not!

Another busy but non-eventful week...I've been dispatching my on-line shop orders over the last couple of days, so your parcels should be with you soon.

I've also briefly been in conversation with my solicitor again, but it looks like another week has past without any more news on the physical shop...frustrating...but I'll get there in the end...I hope...

I have started to think about some of the items that will be moving in there, once I have the key...

I recently bought this vintage mannequin quite reasonably, because she has a rather large watermark across her hips. This doesn't actually bother me; it shows she's lived a life and has a story or two to tell, but some visitors to my shop may not see her in such a favourable light.

I want to use her to display vintage costume brooches that I will have for sale, which I shall pin across her chest, as well as necklaces, feathers etc - just like Tallulah in my bedroom...

A rather gorgeous vintage corset hides her imperfections and adds another point of interest to my display. I thought I'd try to find another corset or girdle to fit my newest lady, so as to create a similar looking arrangement...

I bought this beauty on-line. It came all the way from France and is completely unused. Unfortunately is is just too large and won't stay on my mannequin. I thought if I really pulled the lacing tight that it would do the job, but it really was designed for a more ample figure!

I love how it is constructed, and to think most women wore these, once upon a time...

This smaller white corset came from Sue at the V&H Fair. I thought it might be borderline size-wise, so chanced it....sadly no matter how hard I pull at the hooks and eyes, its not going to go around my girl's hips...

and the more I look at her, the more I think she wouldn't actually suit a tight, restrictive undergarment. She's a more straight-up and down kind of a girl, probably from around the 1920's/30's, well after the 1800's when women we expected to do awful damage to their internal organs in the name of fashion.

Perhaps I shouldn't inflict this on my poor girl!

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As much as I find the old advertisements of the late 1880's fascinating, there is no way I would ever wish to go back to a time when women put their health at such risk.

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Having said that, I was rather surprised to find some images on Google which show a few women who practice corset training. A corset is worn virtually around the clock to slowly alter the figure over years. Of course the back muscles become weakened, so the corset can never be removed for any length of time, once this tiny size has been reached.

This is Cathie Jung, who has her place in the Guinness book of records for being the woman with the smallest waist with a measurement of just 15".

Yes, moving on...

I've decided to call my new mannequin Clara, after the stunningly beautiful Clara Bow.

I've tried several options today to dress her up a little, but have decided to go for a simple idea. I'm going to tie a wide pastel coloured velvet ribbon around her waist and hips and I shall tuck lengths of lace, handkerchiefs or vintage head scarves that I have for sale at any one time into it. This should create almost a flapper, handkerchief point hemline, which I think will suit her far more than any corset would!

And I can still pin the brooches and hang necklaces across her front.

Fingers crossed that I'll soon be able to try it out when she moves to her new home on the Market Square.

Have a lovely weekend,

Niki x